French · Greetings & Phrases
hello
A standard greeting used when meeting someone.
Bonjour, comment allez-vous?
Hello, how are you?
The term 'bonjour' combines 'bon' (good) and 'jour' (day), originating from Old French. Its usage can be traced back to the 16th century as a polite greeting.
'Bonjour' is used in both formal and informal contexts and is widely used across French-speaking regions. Primarily spoken, it's commonly used in daytime greetings but can also appear in written correspondence.